Spring-leaf spreader and lubricator



L. E. WOOD.

- SPRING LEAF SPREADER'AND LUBRICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8, 1920.

Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

avwamto'z Gttowm o SPRING-LEAF SPREADER AND LUBRICATOR.

Application filed March 8,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LoUIs ErWooD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Farrell, in the county of Mercer and State of Pennsylvania,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring-LeafSpreaders and Lubricators; and I do declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for lubricating vehiclesprings, and more particularly to those which first spread the leaves ofthe spring and then inject a suitable lubricant between them. I am awarethat devices of this general class have been heretofore provided, but myinvention aims to improve upon them to such an extent as to provide anextremely simple and inexpensive, yet a highly efficient and reliabledevice, which may be operated entirely from either the outer side or theinner side of the spring, as may be most convenient. This is of greatadvantage, since it often happens that the springs are inaccessible atsome places from their inner sides, and others from their outer sides.In either case, the device may be operated fromone side of the springonly and thus all parts of the spring may be effectively lubricated.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novelconstruction and ar rangement of parts hereinafter fully de-: scribedand claimed, the descriptive matter being supplemented by theaccompanying drawing. V

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a device constructed in accordancewith my invention, parts being in elevation.

Fig. 2 is an edge view. I

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the plane of'line 33 of Fig. 1. V

In carrying out my invention, I provide a tubular lubricant conductingmember 1 having a wedge 2' at one end for spreading the leaves of avehicle spring, while its other end is provided with appropriate ,means3 for feeding grease or other lubricant. For projecting the member 1 andits wedge 2, I provide a screw't, this screw being threaded through oneend of a spring-embracing yoke 5. On the end of the screw adjacent thelubricant feeding means 3, I make provision 1920. Serial no, 364334.

for rotating said screw, and although such provlsloir may vary asoccasion may demand,

r creas Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

I prefer to provide, a pair ofjwings 6 for turn ng the'screw by hand,and ahexagonalhead 7 operatingsaid screw with a I wrench orthe likeshould this be necessary.-

In the preferred form of my invention,

the lubricant conducting member lis in the form of a metal tube asshownclearly in Fig. 1, with the wedge 2 formed'integrally with oneof itsends. This end is also provided w1th.a continuous external shoulder 8serving as a thrust bearing against which the screw 4: acts. This screwis preferably 7 0f tubular'form and is rotatable about the tube 1, beingconfined on said tube between the shoulder 8 and the nipple 9 of thegrease cup or the like 3, said nipple being threaded on the end of thetube 1 remote from the I shoulder.

Preferably though not necessarily, the end of the yoke 5, opposite theend thereof carrying the parts above described, is provided .with apreferably. conical wedge 10 which co-acts with the wedge 2 in spreadingthe 7 leaves of the springs as indicated in Fig. 1.

In operation, the-yoke 5 is placedover or under the spring, either fromthe outer or inner side of the latter, as most convenient.

The screw a is then operated to force the r tube 1 and its wedge 2inwardly so that said wedge is received between the leaves of the springto spread the latter, the other wedge.

10 assisting in this operation when used.

When the spring leaves have been adequately I V separated, the greasecup or other lubricant feeding device 3 is operated to inject a quantityof the lubricating material through the I tube 1 and the wedge 2,depositing the same between the spread leaves of the spring. Attentionis here directed'to the fact that both the screw 4: and the lubricantfeeding means 3, are operable from the same side of the vehicle spring,thus adapting the device for convenient use on springs which could-not,

be lubricated by similar devices in which both ends of the yoke 5 areencumbered by projecting parts.

From the foregoing, taken in'connection' with the accompanying drawing,it will be seen that I have provided an extremely simplefand inexpensivespring leaf spreader and lubricator, yet one which will be highlyeffici'ent and desirable' Since probably-then but I wish it understoodthat within the r best results may be obtained fromthe detailsdisclosed, such details may well be followed,

scope of the invention as claimed, numerous modifications may well bemade.

I claim:

1. A spring leaf spreader and lubricator co'nprising a tubular lubricantconducting member having a leaf spreading wedge at one end and lubricantfeeding means-at its and a springstraddlingyoke through which the screwis threaded, said screw being tubular, receiving said lubricantconducting member therein, and being rotatable-about said member.=

2. A spring leaf spreader and lubricator comprising a spring-straddlingyoke, a tubular screw threaded through one end of said yoke, a tubeipaScsingjloosely through said tubular screw and having a leaf spreadingwedge andhan external shoulder atyonev end,

and a lubricant feeding device mounted'on the other end of-sald-ltube,said screw being confined between said shoulder and, said 7 feedingdevice and having operating means adjacent the latter.-

In testimonywhereof I have-hereunto set my hand.

LOUIS *EJWOODE V

